How to fix Gmail blocking emails from my WooCommerce WordPress site?

Key findings

• SMTP relay is crucial: Sending emails directly from your web server is highly unreliable for deliverability, especially to major inbox providers like Gmail. Using an SMTP service provider (ESP) is essential for better delivery rates.
• Authentication is vital: Correct configuration of email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical to prevent emails from being blocked or marked as spam by Gmail. A common fix is ensuring the Return-Path is correctly set up.
• Bounce messages clarify problems: The full bounce message from your ESP or mail server provides specific reasons for email rejections, which is indispensable for diagnosing the root cause of blocking issues.
• WordPress plugins help: Plugins like WP Mail SMTP facilitate connecting your WordPress site to an external SMTP provider, while email logging plugins (e.g., WP Mail Logging) help monitor sent emails and identify potential failures internally.
• Sender reputation matters: Your domain and IP reputation (if sending directly) significantly impact deliverability. Being on a blacklist or having a poor reputation can lead to emails being blocked.

Key considerations

• Check WooCommerce settings: Before deep diving into technical issues, verify that all necessary transactional email notifications are enabled within your WooCommerce settings (WooCommerce > Settings > Emails).
• Utilize Google Postmaster Tools: Register and monitor your domain in Google Postmaster Tools. This provides valuable insights into your domain's reputation, spam rate, and authentication status over time, which can take a few days to populate data.
• Review website security: A compromised WordPress site sending spam can severely damage your domain's reputation. Regularly scan for malware and ensure your site is secure, as this can directly affect email deliverability.
• Test systematically: When troubleshooting, make one change at a time and retest. Sending test emails to diagnostic addresses can help confirm if your email is being authenticated and delivered correctly.
• Monitor deliverability: Ongoing monitoring of your email deliverability and sender reputation is crucial to maintain consistent inbox placement and prevent future blocking issues. This includes checking soft-bounced emails from your ESP and their reasons.

Key opinions

• SMTP is the first step: Many marketers quickly advise using an external SMTP provider to bypass common WordPress server sending limitations and improve email deliverability.
• Bounce message is king: The consensus among marketers is that the detailed bounce message is the most important piece of information for diagnosing why Gmail is blocking emails, indicating whether it's an authentication issue, content, or reputation.
• Verify email logging: Installing an email logging plugin (e.g., WP Mail Logging) is a common initial recommendation to confirm if emails are being generated and attempted to be sent by WordPress, before external factors are considered.
• WooCommerce settings check: Basic WooCommerce email settings should always be checked first to ensure transactional emails are enabled for relevant order statuses.
• Authentication is critical for Gmail: Marketers frequently point out that Gmail's strict filtering necessitates correct SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup, especially for bulk senders.

Key considerations

• Transitioning to an ESP: When moving from direct server sending, ensure the transition is complete and all email paths are routed through the new SMTP provider. This often requires using a specific WordPress plugin.
• Domain reputation and blocklists: Consider if your domain or IP is on any blocklist or has a low sender reputation, which could be preventing delivery even with an ESP.
• Test with diagnostic tools: Use tools like mxtoolbox.com to send test emails and get a report on your authentication and path.
• Monitor Postmaster Tools: Although data takes time to appear, marketers suggest registering and regularly checking Google Postmaster Tools for long-term insights into your Gmail deliverability.
• Website security: Ensure the WordPress site itself is free from malware or hacked forms that could be sending spam, as this can lead to domain blacklisting and deliverability issues for legitimate emails.

Key opinions

• Bounce messages are essential for diagnosis: Experts stress that without the full bounce message, diagnosing email blocking issues is extremely difficult, as it contains the specific reason for rejection.
• Common root causes identified: Frequent reasons for blocking include sending IP problems, spam originating from other site forms, or authentication failures (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
• Software reputation can impact delivery: Certain email generation software or its identifiers might have a poor reputation, leading to email blocks even if other settings are correct.
• Return-Path is a critical fix: Properly setting up the Return-Path (envelope from) header can be a direct solution to deliverability issues, ensuring emails are correctly routed and accepted by recipient mail servers.
• Proactive support can resolve issues: Leveraging support from your email service provider or deliverability experts can provide direct assistance in troubleshooting and implementing necessary fixes.

Key considerations

• Authentication deep dive: If basic checks don't work, a detailed review of your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is crucial. Ensure they are aligned with your sending provider (ESP) and correctly published in your DNS.
• Investigate IP and domain reputation: Check if your sending IP or domain is listed on any public blacklists (or blocklists) or has a compromised reputation, as this can directly lead to blocks. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools can help.
• Security of the WordPress site: Ensure your WooCommerce site is not compromised or has vulnerable forms that might be used to send spam, which can severely damage your sender reputation and lead to blocks.
• Iterative troubleshooting: Systematically apply fixes and retest. For example, resolve authentication issues first, then test before moving on to other potential problems. The Return-Path fix often follows initial authentication checks.
• Understanding soft bounces: Soft bounces from an ESP to Gmail typically indicate temporary issues or a lack of trust. This often points back to authentication (e.g., Return-Path issues) or low sender reputation.

Key findings

• WooCommerce settings are fundamental: Documentation directs users to verify that all relevant email templates and notifications are enabled within the WooCommerce settings dashboard.
• Email logging is a diagnostic tool: Installing email logging plugins is recommended to track messages sent through the WordPress system, helping to determine if the site is attempting to send emails at all.
• SMTP providers are key to deliverability: Documentation emphasizes the role of SMTP providers in ensuring email deliverability, especially for transactional emails from e-commerce sites, as they handle the actual sending process more reliably than the default PHP mailer.
• Authentication is a common culprit: A consistent theme in troubleshooting guides is the need for proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent Gmail from blocking messages due to unverified senders.
• Server setup impacts sending: Issues with the WordPress site's server setup are frequently cited as reasons why emails fail to send, particularly if it's not configured to reliably handle outbound mail.

Key considerations

• Accessing WooCommerce email settings: Users should navigate to WP Admin dashboard > WooCommerce > Settings > Emails to review and adjust their email configurations.
• Understanding SMTP's role: Familiarize yourself with how SMTP providers function and why they are generally more effective than relying on default server mail functions for sending transactional emails.
• Troubleshooting methodology: Follow systematic troubleshooting steps, starting with internal WordPress and WooCommerce checks before moving to external email service configurations.
• Authentication configuration: When setting up an SMTP provider, pay close attention to the instructions for configuring SPF and DKIM records for your domain, which are crucial for authentication.
• Diagnosing non-sending issues: If emails aren't even leaving your WordPress site, the issue likely stems from plugin conflicts, server configuration, or fundamental WooCommerce email settings, rather than external Gmail blocking.